Speed-recorder



(No Model.). 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. G. HENRY.

SPEED RECORDER.

No. 270,431. Patented Ja.n.9, 1883.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. G. HENRY.

SPEED RECORDER. No. 270,431. Patented Jan.9,1883.

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SPEED RECORDER. No. 270,431. Patented Jan.9,1883.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. C. HENRY.

SPEED RECORDER.

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UNITED STATES JOHN G. HENRY, OF KANSAS OlTY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO L. W. TOWNE AND P. F. CLINTON, OF SAME PLAOILAND J. L. BARNES,

OF LATRENOE, KANSAS.

SPEED-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,431, dated January 9, IBES,

Application filed May 4, 1882. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I','JOHN-O. HENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas Oity, in the countyol'Jackson and State of Missour-i, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed Recorders, Indicators, and Distance-Measureis, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to those in- To struments which are intended to record the speed of railway-trains, and has for its object the production of an instrument which will record, by marking on a traveling paper or ribbon suitably divided by lines to indicate both 1 distance and speed, the velocity of the train to which it is applied at any part of itsjourney and at the same time actuate an indicator or gage in the engineers cab, to keep the engineer constantly informed of the speed of his train. Devices heretofore suggested for this purpose, on account of the imperfect nature of the governor or other actuating mechanism employed and of the multiplicity and weakness of their moving parts, are very irregular in their operation, being liable to be affected in the constant jar of the locomotive or car, so as to render the recording jerky and unreliable.

The present invention consists in certain de- 0 vices for accomplishing the purposes above set out with greater accuracy and evenness than has been before attained in instruments of this character, andto certain details in the construction of the instrument audits protecting- 5 casing, hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my recording'instrument and the mechanism for actuating the same. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig.3 is a sectional view of the recorder, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional 5 elevation on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the drivingshaft and the sliding sleeve and its accessories. Fig. 6 is a' vertical section on the line 6 6, Fi 5. Fig. 7 is a detached view of the preferred form of gearing employed to transmit motion from the truck-axle to thedriviug-shaft. Fi

8 represents the indicator and sectionsof transmitting mechanism and its protectingtube. Fig. 9 is a iew of the indicator with thedial removed. Fig. 10 is a detached view of the preferred form of recording-pen employed.

A is the base, B the ends, and O the top, of the box or casing containing my improved recording-instrument and its accessories. The top 0 is hinged to the base'or ends, as shown at c, adapting it to be lifted to display or for access to the instrument, and may be securely locked to prevent meddling with the same, a lock for this purpose being shown atD in Fig. 3.

Bearing-pins E, ad ustable in the ends B of the casing, and adapted to be set at any desired point by nuts e, support between their inner ends a rotary shalt, F, traversing the whole length of the casing.

On one end of shaftF is cast or keyed a pul- 7o ley or band-wheel, G, carrying belt H, for transmitting motion from a truck axle to the shaft F.

The mechanism for transmitting motion from the truck-axle to shaft F is shown detached in Fig. 7. A pulley, I, preferably on one axle of the forward truck of the locomotive, (these' axles always rotating so long as the train is in motion, being better adapted for the purpose than other aXles of the train,) carries a belt, J, passing over one face of a double pul- '80 ley, K, keyed to a shaft, Ir, whose ends are supported by and have bearing in hangers L, preferably of spring-steel, whose upper ends are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame of the locomotive. The other face of pulley K receives belt H, which runs also, as before stated, over pulley G on shaft F. It will now be seen that as the truck-axle revolves it will, by means of the mechanism just described, impart a continuous rotary motion to shaft F. The 0 constant springing of the engine from the truck willnot vary the tension on the belts, as the hanger L will readily yield to the springing motion of the engine, and return to its vertical position on release of pressure by the engine 5 resettling on its springs.

The hinged top O of the casing is provided near one end with a partition, 0, attached thereto, meeting, when said top is closed, corresponding partition b,extendingfrom the base B, serving, when thus joined by the closure of the top, to form a diaphragm for the purpose of excluding the dust, 850., carried up by the belt H from the interior of the casing.

The shaft F is cast with a longitudinal slot near one end for the reception of my improved mechanistn controlling the position of the recording pen or pencil and the indicator. This regultitor is constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The arm M, occupying the slot in shaft F, is cast in one with trunnions m m on each side thereof, having conical hearings or sockets to receive the conical ends of set-screws N, adjustable in shaft F by means of nuts n for the purpose of taking up wear in the bearings and adjusting the regulator in an exactly central position in the shaft F. The arm M is screwthreaded on each end forthe reception of regulator-balls O, fixed to any position thereon by means of nuts 0. These balls may be set out or in from the center of arm M, to increase or lessen their momentum when the shaft Fis is motion.

Abutments P P, bolted to shaft F on opposite sides, have flanges p p, which are slotted, as shown in Fig. 1, to render the said abutments adj ustable longitudinally on said shaft.

Springs Q Q, having at one end flattened tongues orplates q q, bolted to arm M, and at the other end a screw-threaded pin, q, passing through holes in the abutments, .and adjustable to regulate the tension of the spring, by means of thumb-nuts q, serve to forcibly draw the arm M back to its normal position--thatis, away from a position perpendicular to the shaft F-on a slowing of the shafts rotation and consequent relaxing of the centrifugal force of the regulator.

Slots q in the end of tongues q and in the arm M permit the adjustment ofthe spring outward or inward on the arm M, so as to increase or lessen its effective force thereon.

It will be readily seen that the regulator above described, supported axially on the rotary shaft and accurately adjustable so as to be exactly balanced on each side of said shalt, is especially adapted for use on a recorder of a locomotive, the constant jarring ofwhich, both vertically and horizontally, cannot att'ect in the slightestdegreethe evenness and smoothness of action ofthe regulator. The Watt and other old forms of regulators are entirely inapplicable to this purpose, as every slightjar ot the engine wot'ild cause them to be constantly thrown from their normal position, rendering the recording jerky and unreliable.

It is evident that the form of governomhere described could be applied as well to and would opera e as perfectly on a vertical as a horizontal shaft.

An arm, R, projecting from the arm M and cast integrally therewith, carries at its lower end wristpins 1', on which connecting-rods S are held by keys 1'. Said connecting'rods S are similarly hinged at their other ends to pins t on sleeve T, adapted to slide on main shaft F. The preferred construction of this sliding sleeve is shown in Figs. 5 and (3, which represent sections taken in planes at right angles to each other. The sleeve T is formed with a circumferential V or truncated V groove, t, adapted to receive a correspondiugly-shaped web or ridge, 2!, formed on the inner surface of a yoke or box, which is formed in two parts, U U, having flanges a, adapted to be bolted together by bolts a. An oil-cup, V, is sup ported by the upper halt'- voke, U, from which duct a supplies lubricating-oil to the journal. A feather, f, on shaft F occupies a corresponding groove in sleeve T, and serves to guide said sleeve longitudinally on said shaft. The upper part, U, of the yoke is prolonged to form an arm, U, adapted to carry upon its outer end a marking pen or pencil, W, which, actuated by the regulator, is made to record the varying speeds of the train at different parts of its route by means of the mechanism now to be described.

The shalt F is provided at one end with a wortn, X, gearing with worm-wheel Y, keyed to shaft. Y, which has bearings in supports 01' hangers g bolted to and adjustable on standards y,'bolted adjust-ably to the base of the casing. The other end ofshaftY is provided with worm Y, gearing with worm-wheel 1, carried by a shaft, 2, to which is keyed or otherwise attached a drum, Z, over which the recording paper or ribbon passes, and by which it is driven. Shaft 2 has conical sockets or bearings at its ends for the reception of conically-pointed pivot-pins 2, adjustable in standards 3 for the purpose of taking up wear in the bearings. The ribbon 0r recording-paper 7 is wound upon spools Z Z, hung upon pivotpins z z, respectively, also adjust .ble for taking up wear. The drtttn Z and spools Z Z are all supported by means of adjustable pivotpins, as described, on standards 3 3 at 4, bolted to the base of the casing and adjustable thereon by means of slots 5 therein to enable them to be accurately set to the desired position on the base. I have here shown gearing adapted to propel the ribbon at the rate of an inch a mile; but if it is desired to either in crease or lessen the amount of paper fed per mile it is merely necessary to remove the worm-wheels Y and l, substituting therefor worm-wheels of a greater or less number of spurs, according to whether it is desired to lessen orincrease the speed of the ribbon. For this purpose the hanger y is slotted, as shown at 5 to adapt the said hanger to be moved vertically, and the standard y is slotted, as shown at 6, to allow of its horizontal adjust.- ment. By this means worm-wheels of any desired diameter can be inserted and accurately adjusted to mesh with the worms X and Y. The ribbon 7, preferably of paper, is ruled with transverse lines at suitable distances to indi- IIO nrade and distance traveled by the train.

rate miles traveled and with longitudinal lines If desired to use the same ribbon for the reto indicate distance traveled during a given space of time.

At Fig. 10 is illustrated the preferred form of pen employed by me. It consists of a reservoir, 8, within which slides a plunger, 9, carrying pen-point 10 for conveying ink to the paper from the reservoir, and forced down by spring 11 abutting against a plate, 12.

A cap, 13, screwed into the top of easing or reservoir 8, provides bearing for the plate 12, and when unscrewed permits access to the irrterior of the pen. This pen is held in an eye, 8, on the end of arm U of yoke U.

The following is the operation of the re corde": The train having been set in motion, rotary movement is communicated to shaft F by belts J H and pulleys'l K G. The arm M, accurately balanced to respond to the least motio n of the shaft, is gradually thrown out by centrifugal force to a position approaching a perpendicular as the speedof the train is increased. By means of the arm R and connecting-rods S b, bearing with equal force on opposite sides of the sleeve T, it is forced along its path on shaft F, carrying with it the yoke U, and marking pen or pencil \V, which will thus indicate on the paper accurately the speed attained. At the same time the worm X on the shaft F, gearing with worm-wheel Y, actuates, through worm Y, worm-wheel 1, and shafts Y and 2, the drum Z, over which the ribbon 7 from drums Z Z is wound. It will thus be seen that so long as the train is in motion the drum Z is rotated, and the ribbon 7 is positively fed from one spool to the other with a speed proportional to the distance traveled by the train. It is preferable to drive the paper through the medium of the said drum Z, instead of by means of spools Z Z alone, for the reason that the drum Z will always wind steadily, not being affected by the greater or less'diameter of the coiled ribbon thereon, as either of the spools Z Z would be. The pen or pencil \V is so held by arm U, guided in a right line by the bar 14, supported by standards 3 3, as to be moved transversely across the paper ribbon by the oscillation of theregulator, the result being a wavy and irregular line thereon. The paper or ribbon being divided by transverse lines into spaces of width corresponding with the distance the drum is moved for every mile traveled by the train. it will be seen that the marking pen or pencil W, resting on the said ribbon, will accurately record the distance traveled by the train, and by the longitudinal lines upon the paper at suitable distances apartit will indicate the speed traveled per hour at any portion of its route, by the relative positions of the mile-marks and these lines. There will thus be recorded on the ribbon an accurate record of the time It will be seen also thatas the mechanism is adapted to run backward as well as forward any change in the dir ection of the train-as for switching-will be accurately recorded.

turn-trip ot' the train, so as to have the whole trip on one ribbon, it may be accomplished by simply crossing the belt H, when the ribbon will feed back again to the spool from which it was wound. For the return-trip the ink in the pen W should he changed to one of a different color for the sake of clearness.

To secure a more constant feed of the ribbon by giving greater friction between the same and the drmn Z, I cover the surface of said drum with a layer of sand, powdered glass, or emery or sand paper, which has the advantage of being many times cheaper, while it is fully as effective as the series of steel points on the extremities of the drum now commonly in use on similar instruments.

To keep the ribbon constantly taut and to insure constant feed so long as the train is in motion, 1 provide springs 15, wound on shafts 16, each connecting standards 4 4*, which support the spools Z Z, respectively, the action of said springs being to keep the spools Z Z constantly and firmly against the drum Z.

In addition to the recording-instrument I have above described, I employ a mechanisrrr for the purpose of actuating an indicator in the engineers'cab to keep him constantly in formed of the speed of his train. To this end I attach to the yoke U a forked rod or lever, 17, which, passing through an opening or aperture in one end of the casing, is provided on its outer extremity with an eye, to which is secured the end of a wire or cord, 18, which, passing through pipe 19, around sheave or pulley 20, protected by angle-casing 21, through the hand-rail 22, around the sheave or pulley 23, and through pipe or tube 24; to the indicator-case 2-3, terminates in a chain, 26, wound upon drum 27 in the center of said indicatorcase. The otherend of said chain is attached to the projecting end of the helical spring 28, wound upon drum 29. The tension of the said spring may be increased or diminished at will by shifting its downturned end 30 from one to the other of the series of holes 31, arranged irr a circle about said drum. By this means the tension of the spring 28 may be accurately adjusted to counterbalance the terrsion of the springs Q, Q, on arm M. 011 ac count of the great momentum of the balls 0 when the shalt I is revolved at a high speed it is necessary that the springs Q Q, be made quite'strong, rendering it impossible to secure great delicacy therein, especially at a low speed of revolution. For this reason I have found it advisable to use the spring 28, which, when accurately adjusted, so balances the effect of the springs Q, Q on the regulator as to cause it to respond to a very slight speed of revolution of the shaft I lrrstead of passing over the sheaves 20 23, the wire 18 maybe jointed to bell-cranks at the points 21 and 21 of the projecting casing, but I prefer to use the sheaves, as described.

The advantages of the instrument herein described consist in its great delicacy, fitting IlO it to respond to slight changes of speed; its simplicity, the connection from the shaft F to the drum Z being made by simply two wormsand two worm-wheels; its strength,hav-

ing few parts and those it has being compact and adapted to stand heavystrains; and its steadiness, so that although, as before stated, responding to the slightestchanges in speed of" the locomotive, it is not alt'ected in the least by itsjarring and uneven motion.

While I have here described my device as applicable to the fore truck of a locomotive, it is obvious that its usefulness is not restricted to this position, being also adapted to be placed on other parts of the train or in other places, steamboats, cars, Sac.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a speed recorder for locomotives, the slotted driving-shaft I carrying governors M M, O t), with a spring or springs, Q, and mechanism for actuating a recording pen or pencil, in combination with an indicator having a spring connected with the pen or pencil actuating mechanism, and balancing the resilience of the governor-springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of slotted shaft F, hung on adjustable trunnion-pins E E, supported by the end plates of the casing, with the governors M M, hung on trunnion-pins N N, and con trolled by spring or springs Q Q, substantially as set forth.

3. In a speed recorder for locomotives, the driving-shaft I provided with worm X, the shaft Y, supported byadjustable standards g y, and carrying worm-wheel Y and worm Y, in combination with the worm-wheel l and drum Z upon shalt 2, supported by standards 3, and the spools Z" Z, mounted on standards at 1", and in frictional contact with said drum Z, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4.. In a speedrecorder for locomotives, the t'liiving-shaft F, carrying worm X, the shaft 'Y, mounted on adjustable standards y y, and carrying worm-wheel Yand worm Y, and the worm-wheel l and drum Z on shalt 2, having hearings in standards 3, in combination with spools Z r mounted on standards 4 t, each of which is provided with a transverse bar, 16, and the springs 15, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In a speed-recorder for locomotives, the slotted driying-shaft F, carrying got-ernors M M, O O, with spring or springs Q, arm 1t, and connecting-rods S, in con'ibination with the sleeve '1. yoke U U, with its arm U, carrying a recording pen or pencil, W, and mechanism actuated by the drivingshaft tor continuously feeding a recording-ribbon beneath said pen or pencil, substantially as described.

6. In a speed-recorder for locomotives, the driving-shaft F, with its worm X, shaft Y,

with its worm-wheel Y and worm Y, and the shaft 2, carrying worm-wheel 1, in combination with the adjustable standard 7 with its slot 5*, and the standard 3 with its slot (3, substantially as set forth.

7. In a speed-recorder for locomotives, the slotted dri\"ing-shaft I with its governors M M, t) O, spring or springs Q, adjustabl on said shaft by means of abutnients I, arm It, connecting-rods S, and feather f, in combination with the sliding sleeve T, having groove 2, and yoke U, having a web of corresponding shape filling said groove 1, substantially as Shown and described.

8. The combination of indicator-spring 28, having projecting end 30, with the base-plate having a circular series of holes, 31, therein, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a speed-reconler for locomotives, the recording mechanism located within casing A. B 0, said casing being provided with an opening or aperture, and the wire 18, attached to the divided arm 17 of the recording mechanistn, in combination with tubes 19, anglecasings 21, hand-rail 22, and indicator 25, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with base A, carrying half-partition b,the sides B B,attached to said base, and the top or cover 0, hinged to said base,and having half-partitionc,saidhalt partitions when the casing is closed, uniting to form a diaphragm across the casing impervious to dust.

11. In a speed-recorder for locomotives, the indicator-spring 28, having a projecting end,

30, the base-plate having a circular series of holes, 31, therein, and the drum 27, in combination with the chain 26, attached at one end to the spring 25 and to the wire 18 at its other end, and coiled around the said drum 27, sub stantially as set forth.

12. In a speed-recorder t'or locomotives, the slotted driving-shaft carrying governors M M,

O 0 and mechanism for actuating a recording pen or pencil, \V, and provided with a pulley, G, in combination-with the elastic hanger, L, carrying double pulley K, the pulley I, attached to the vehicle-axle, and the cords or belts II and J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of drum Z, mounted on standard 3, and provided with a friction-surface formed of a covering of sand or emery applied to its circumference, the spool Z, mounted on the adjustable standard at, the spool Z, mounted on the adjustable standard 4, the shafts 16, connecting the standards 4 4, and provided with springs 15, and the ribbon 7, substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOI'IN C. HENRY.

Witnesses:

11'. E. KNIGHT, L. M; HOPKINS.

IIO 

